MARCUS Trescothick and Chris Rogers were dismissed within sight of centuries as Somerset dominated leaders Yorkshire on the opening day of their Specsavers County Championship Division One match at Taunton.

A large crowd at the Cooper Associates County Ground saw Trescothick contribute 97 and Rogers 91 to a total of 342 for four after Yorkshire had elected to bowl first in warm sunshine on a dry looking pitch.

The two experienced left-handers added 148 for the second wicket before James Hildreth, with an unbeaten 68, and Jim Allenby, who made 51, cemented an already strong position with a partnership of 85, Hildreth going past 13,000 first-class runs for Somerset in the process.

Adil Rashid, who was not introduced until the 50th over, claimed the wickets of Trescothick and Rogers, but there was little in the pitch for the Yorkshire seamers, who faced a day of toil.

The visitors must have hoped to capitalise on the green tinges in the wicket during the first hour, but managed only one breakthrough.

That came when Tom Abell, on eight, played a forward defensive shot to Steven Patterson and was bowled between bat and pad by a ball that nipped back.

From 30 for one, Trescothick and Rogers progressed with few alarms. Trescothick appeared to survive a tough caught and bowled chance to Adam Lyth on 42, but went on to a 78-ball half-century, including 10 fours.

The former England opener was particularly severe on anything pitched wide and was given solid support by Rogers as they took the score to 110 for one from 34 overs at lunch.

After the interval Rogers moved to his half-century, off 108 deliveries, with seven fours, and the two former Test players had taken the score to 178 when Rashid struck in his first over.

Trescothick was tempted into a big drive by a full ball and the leg-spinner took a sharp return catch with the batsman three short of what would have been a 61st first-class century.

Rogers looked set for three-figures when he became Rashid's second victim shortly after tea with the score on 247.

The Australian was deceived by a googly and edged a catch through to wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd, having hit nine boundaries in his 183-ball innings.

Yorkshire may have sensed an opening, but the door was shut by Hildreth and Allenby, whose partnership blossomed after the latter had made a sketchy start.

Hildreth reached a fluent fifty from 75 balls, with six fours, and Allenby notched the fourth half-century of the day off 72 deliveries, having hit a six over midwicket off Rashid and four boundaries.

The former Glamorgan all-rounder was moving towards his best Somerset score of 64 when snapped up at cover by Gary Ballance off Will Rhodes with the total on 332.

Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie said: "For me it was a no-brainer to field first. We felt that was the best way move the game along and the ball did nibble about in the first hour.

"We only managed to take one wicket, but for that you have to give credit to the Somerset batsmen. For most of the day I thought we bowled well and that the body language of the players was excellent.

"You are looking at a pretty happy coach. It's going to be a big first hour in the morning and both sides will have been saying that in the dressing rooms."

Somerset's Trescothick said: "We pride ourselves on big scores and the disappointment is that no one has yet got to a hundred on what was a pretty good pitch.

"Having said that, we are delighted with our position, having batted consistently. The pitch is quicker than the one for the Lancashire game here and 342 for four is a decent effort.

"I was frustrated to get out so close to a century. It wasn't a wicket-taking ball and I just smashed it back at Adil Rashid, who took and excellent catch."